This study investigates the anti-corrosion properties of two eco-friendly pyridinium ionic liquids; 4DMN and 4DMP, in a 3.5% NaCl solution. Utilizing weight loss tests, EIS, PDP, quantum chemical calculations, and molecular dynamics simulations, the study demonstrates concentration-dependent inhibition efficiencies of 94% and 92% for 4DMN and 4DMP, respectively. The compounds modulate both anodic and cathodic reactions without altering the corrosion mechanism. EIS data suggest that a protective layer forms, supported by FE-SEM and AFM surface analyses, which reveal improved morphology and reduced roughness. Computational validations corroborate these empirical findings, highlighting the feasibility of these ionic liquids for effective, sustainable corrosion mitigation.
This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), Korea (No. NRF-2018R1A5A1025137).